g20http://www.actionaid.org/tags/211/149
enG20 – ActionAid reaction to Bill Gates’ report http://www.actionaid.org/eu/news/g20-%E2%80%93-actionaid-reaction-bill-gates%E2%80%99-report
<fieldset class="fieldgroup group-content"><div class="field field-date-display">
<span class="date-display-single"><time datetime="2011-11-03T00:00:00+00:00">Thursday, November 3, 2011</time></span> </div>
<div class="field field-intro">
<p><strong>Comment from</strong>: <strong>Neil Watkins, Director of Policy and Campaigns, ActionAid USA,</strong> who was also directly involved in the NGO consultations on the report with the Gates Foundation. Member of the G20 endorsed GAFSP (Global Agriculture and Food Security Program)</p> </div>
<div class="field field-body">
<p>In reaction to the release of Bill Gates’ report to the G20, <em><span>Innovation with Impact: Financing 21st Century Development</span></em>, <strong>Neil Watkins, Director of Policy and Campaigns, ActionAid USA,</strong> said:</p> <p><em>“Bill Gates’ report to the G20 is a bright spot in an otherwise bleak summit for the world’s poor”.</em></p> <p><em>“The report should be required reading for not only G20 leaders but all policy-makers in the US, Eurozone, and elsewhere considering short-sighted cuts to foreign aid”.</em></p> <p><em>“As Gates points out, foreign aid makes a huge difference, but even more important is Gates’ endorsement of several innovative sources of finance – including the Financial Transaction Tax, domestic resource mobilisation, and shipping and aviation fuel levies – which are key to the future of global development assistance”.</em></p> <p><em>“On domestic resource mobilisation, the report is very positive. Gates calls for countries to require their listed oil and mining companies to disclose all payments they make to governments. However Gates should go further by calling for all companies - not just oil, gas and mining - to disclose a range of information including profit and revenue information, not just payments to governments”.</em></p> <p><em>“Perhaps the biggest breakthrough of the report is Gates’ support for levies on aviation and shipping fuels that could generate up to $64 billion – which can help poor countries adapt to climate change, without adding new burdens to them. Support from the UN, World Bank, and now Bill Gates for these mechanisms should generate much needed momentum ahead of the upcoming Durban climate summit in South Africa in November”</em>.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> </div>
</fieldset>
g20EU OfficeThu, 03 Nov 2011 14:16:44 +0000chris.coxon117177 at http://www.actionaid.orgEvery day a billion go hungry and billions are lost in tax havenshttp://www.actionaid.org/eu/news/every-day-billion-go-hungry-and-billions-are-lost-tax-havens
<fieldset class="fieldgroup group-content"><div class="field field-date-display">
<span class="date-display-single"><time datetime="2011-11-02T00:00:00+00:00">Wednesday, November 2, 2011</time></span> </div>
<div class="field field-intro">
<p>As G20 leaders gather in Cannes on Thursday, they will discuss the Eurozone crisis, but must also grapple with the huge challenges facing developing countries.&nbsp;</p> </div>
<div class="field field-body">
<p>Rising food prices and climate change mean that nearly a billion people survive on less than a meal a day. Despite this, multinational companies operating in those vulnerable countries actively avoid paying taxes, with the total amount lost adding up to far more than the countries get in development aid.</p><p>The leaders will have failed to address the plight of the most vulnerable billion if they don’t: (1) take steps to limit food price volatility, (2) support the small farmers who feed the most vulnerable, and (3) take concrete steps to increase transparency by tax havens and multinational corporations and cooperation to share that information.</p> <p><strong>ACTION ON FOOD CRISIS</strong> – Volatility in food prices caused the world food crisis of 2007-08 and has caused prices of many staple foods to double again in the last 18 months. One key proposal on the agenda is the pilot emergency reserve programme for West Africa which their Agriculture Ministers recommended at the Paris meeting in June.</p> <p>“<em>The G20 can reduce the volatility in food prices by finding options for buffer reserves to control prices and, as a preliminary step, by supporting the emergency reserve program for West Africa”,</em> said Soren Ambrose - International Policy Manager, ActionAid.</p> <p><em>“</em><em>The G20 world leaders should also agree to impose position limits on food speculators who are driving much of that volatility”.</em>&nbsp;</p> <p>In East Africa, 12 million people are starving due to the worst drought in 60 years hitting the Horn of Africa.&nbsp;So far the G20 has failed to deliver on its commitment to support a global fund to deliver the $22bn promised in 2009 for smallholder farmers in the developing world. Unless governments address their specific needs, hunger will never be eradicated.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>“Small holder farmers used to have food stocks but now they are forced to sell</em><em> off their produce so they don`t have enough left to eat. </em><em>A new community food reserve program in Kirundo works well, but it needs funds to sustain it - a little money spent now could prevent far more expensive crises later”,</em> said Marie-Consolate Ntahimpera – a smallholder farmer and Vice President of Synergy HORANITEKA, a Burundian NGO focusing on women and agriculture.</p> <p>Smallholder farmers produce half the world’s food and the majority are women. If women were given the same access as men to education, training, technology and other farming services, the number of hungry people could be cut by around 15% worldwide.</p> <p><em>“In Burundi, the weather is becoming more extreme and we need </em><em>seeds and crop varieties that can adapt to heavy rain and drought. Women need extra help as they produce most of the food and have no property rights, so when they cannot produce, the whole family goes hungry”,</em> Marie-Consolate Ntahimpera concluded.</p> <p>ACTION ON TAX HAVENS – If developing countries could achieve the recommended tax take of 15% of national income, they would gain an additional $198 billion per year, far more than is now made available as aid. The G20 needs to <strong>increase co-operation on information-sharing with tax authorities in developing countries</strong> to start closing the loopholes that deprive developing countries of billions of dollars every year.&nbsp;</p> <p>At the G20 in London in 2009, world leaders agreed to take action against tax havens, saying they would deploy sanctions to protect public finances and financial systems. “Much of the shadow banking sector, a major contributor to the economic crisis, was also only possible because of tax haven secrecy”, business secretary Vince Cable acknowledged at the time.</p> <p>A blacklist of uncooperative jurisdictions was published at the summit, but developing countries have not yet benefited, and some including India and Argentina have called for the G20 to raise the bar at next week’s summit, when they discuss progress on tax haven transparency.</p> <p>ActionAid’s tax justice adviser, Martin Hearson, said: <em>“In 2009 the G20 declared the era of banking secrecy was over, but two years later it remains intact, so much so that many G20 members have instead cut deals with Switzerland that raise revenue but preserve secrecy. In doing so they have undermined global progress and left developing countries high and dry”</em>.</p> </div>
</fieldset>
foodg20hungerLand and foodHungerFREEEU OfficeWed, 02 Nov 2011 14:31:26 +0000chris.coxon115643 at http://www.actionaid.orgG20 ministers fail to take strong decisions needed to avert global food crisishttp://www.actionaid.org/eu/news/g20-ministers-fail-take-strong-decisions-needed-avert-global-food-crisis
<fieldset class="fieldgroup group-content"><div class="field field-date-display">
<span class="date-display-single"><time datetime="2011-06-23T00:00:00+00:00">Thursday, June 23, 2011</time></span> </div>
<div class="field field-intro">
<p>The first G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meeting has failed to take the strong decisions needed to avert the looming food crisis.&nbsp;</p> </div>
<div class="field field-body">
<p>ActionAid today welcomed the stronger language on smallholder farmers and the right to food contained in the G20 Ministers’ Action Plan.</p> <p>It also welcomed the recognition of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organizations’ Committee on Food Security as the foremost body for food policy decisions but warned that this was insufficient to avert another global food crisis.</p> <p>Adriano Campolina, Country Director of ActionAid Brazil said: <em>“In 2009, the G20 showed it can arrange massive bailouts for bankers, but it’s now showing a complete lack of political will to stop the looming food crisis that will hit the poor the hardest”.</em></p> <p><em>“Despite the failure of this meeting, ActionAid will continue to hold President Sarkozy to account to on his promises on food security, ahead of the November G20 summit”.&nbsp;</em></p> <p>Soren Ambrose, ActionAid’s International Policy Manager added: <em>“We are disappointed that the Ministers are delaying the implementation of regional co-ordination of food reserves which are urgently needed to prevent the next food crisis”.</em></p> <p>G20 Ministers also failed to commit to remove targets and financial incentives for biofuels which require large amounts of land and lead to food insecurity.</p> <p>Marie Brill, ActionAid’s biofuels expert said: <em>"The G20 has chosen to ignore the clear recommendations made by 10 international organisations on tackling food price volatility by removing targets and financial incentives for biofuels”.</em></p> <p><em>“As a result, increasing amounts of global food crops will be burnt for fuel while the world teeters on the verge of a new food crisis”</em>.</p> <p>ActionAid will continue to hold President Sarkozy and G20 ministers to account on their promises on global food security ahead of the November G20 summit.</p> </div>
<div class="field field-editors-notes">
<p><strong>For more information and interviews with ActionAid staff at the G20 in Paris call:</strong></p> <p>Samantha Bolton on + 33 623 94 49 12 or +44 797 242 8633 or <a href="mailto:samanthabolton@gmail.com">samanthabolton@gmail.com</a></p><p><a href="mailto:samanthabolton@gmail.com"></a>Julie Nouvion on +33 786 12 61 82 or <a href="mailto:j.nouvion@peuples-solidaires.org">j.nouvion@peuples-solidaires.org</a></p><p><a href="mailto:j.nouvion@peuples-solidaires.org"></a>Patricia Brooks on +1 202 351 1757 or <a href="mailto:Patricia.brooks@actionaid,org">Patricia.brooks@actionaid,org</a></p> <p><strong>See a copy of ActionAid’s new report here: </strong><a href="http://act.ai/FoodCrisis">http://act.ai/FoodCrisis</a></p> <p><strong>Who is ActionAid?</strong></p><p>ActionAid works with millions of farmers in over 30 countries and has spearheaded a global campaign aimed at ensuring the legal right to food for everyone regardless of their situation in life.&nbsp;We have been working with smallholder farmers for 30 years.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p> </div>
</fieldset>
g20Food & land rightsGovernanceHungerFREEEU OfficeThu, 23 Jun 2011 12:56:42 +0000chris.coxon32697 at http://www.actionaid.orgLost in Translationhttp://www.actionaid.org/eu/shared/lost-translation
<div class="field field-origin-node">
<div class="buildmode-4">
<div class="node node-type-blog_post clear-block">
</div> <!-- /node -->
</div> <!-- /buildmode -->
</div>
g20Food & land rightsGovernanceEU OfficeTue, 21 Jun 2011 10:26:43 +0000marie.brill32205 at http://www.actionaid.orgNew food crisis "one bad harvest away" ActionAid warns G20http://www.actionaid.org/eu/news/new-food-crisis-one-bad-harvest-away-actionaid-warns-g20
<fieldset class="fieldgroup group-content"><div class="field field-date-display">
<span class="date-display-single"><time datetime="2011-06-20T00:00:00+00:00">Monday, June 20, 2011</time></span> </div>
<div class="field field-intro">
<p>ActionAid today warned G20 ministers that the world is one bad harvest from a recurrence of the 2008 food crisis.&nbsp;</p> </div>
<div class="field field-body">
<p>It urged Agriculture Ministers meeting in Paris this week to take urgent action to stabilise food prices, including slashing biofuel production and mobilising a system of regional food reserves to help buffer the worst hit. High oil prices, an increase in biofuel production, commodity speculation and a lack of political leadership means that as many as 34 million people are at risk around the world from poverty and hunger if prices continue to rise.</p><p>With countries like the U.S. imposing biofuel mandates that are steering 40% of its corn crop to producing biofuels instead of feeding people, and the European Union massively increasing its biofuels demand under new targets, the era of food surpluses is over. The ministers must act now to reverse the targets and financial incentives that are driving biofuel production.</p> <p>Marie Brill, ActionAid hunger expert said:</p> <p><em>“We are one harvest away from a major food crisis which will push tens of millions more poor people into hunger and destitution. The price of food staples like maize and wheat has doubled in the past year.&nbsp;We can’t wait until there are hungry children on our TV screens before we take action”. </em></p> <blockquote><p><em>“Biofuels are not the answer to the climate and energy crises and our increasing addiction to them is robbing people of basic food security. The world cannot let some starve so that others can drive”.</em></p></blockquote> <p>ActionAid’s new report, <em><a href="http://act.ai/FoodCrisis">A Second Global Food Crisis?</a>, </em>highlights the most recent statistics on food production, food prices, and world hunger. We may not yet be in a crisis, but the price shocks of the last year have us walking a tightrope between tight markets and widespread hunger. Instead of receiving the support they need, the women farmers and smallholders who are the key to food security are paying more for basic food, and enduring increased poverty and stress because of it. &nbsp;</p> <p>Direct evidence from the two recent surveys by ActionAid staff in 20 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America confirmed that many poor families are severely affected by the drop in food production due to weather conditions and high local prices. Among the 50 local areas surveyed in Africa poor families are eating less nutritious food – cutting out vegetables, milk and meat.&nbsp;In many places they only eat one meal a day.</p> <p>The Agriculture Ministers will be considering a proposal from the World Food Programme (WFP) for the co-ordination of regional food reserves, which would position emergency supplies near the most vulnerable people. Activists are also calling on G20 Ministers to examine the potential of buffer reserves, to allow regions or countries to shift price drivers before a crisis develops.&nbsp;</p> <p>This means that if prices increase too fast, they can release some grain to bring them down, and if prices are too low to keep farmers producing food, they can buy up crops to tighten the markets. With buffer reserves, governments can stop the crises before it starts.</p> <p>Sameer Dossani, ActionAid’s Hunger Campaign Co-ordinator in Asia said:</p> <p><em>“The G2O’s priority should be to save lives, time and money. Buffer reserves can prevent price volatility from becoming a crisis”.</em></p> <p><em>“To stop the food crisis, Agriculture Ministers must endorse the World Food Programme’s proposal to co-ordinate regional food reserves”.</em></p> </div>
<div class="field field-editors-notes">
<p>Among the report’s findings:</p> <p>• Over the last year, maize prices in Uganda have risen 114%; red beans in El Salvador have gone up 130%; and wheat has risen 50% in Bangladesh.</p> <p>• Just this month the FAO said that at the global level, the cost of a typical food basket has risen by 48% in real terms over the last year.</p> <p>• The World Bank says an additional 44 million have been pushed into poverty by rising food prices already, and another 34 million are at risk if prices continue going up.</p> <p>• Climate change is here now: an unrelenting series of droughts, floods, storms and volatile weather are leading to substantial crop losses.</p> <p>• An explosion of unregulated speculative activity on the commodity futures markets is amplifying price movements.</p> <p>• The Asian Development Bank says an additional 64 million people in Asia alone are at risk of being pushed into poverty if current price trends are sustained.</p> <p>• In some of the worst-hit localities, an estimated 85% of households are sending children out for work instead of school.</p><p>• Food production has dropped by up to 70% in many rural areas in Africa owing to drought and drought like climatic conditions. 60 to 80% of communities in these areas are affected and are reducing meals.</p> </div>
</fieldset>
EuropeBiofuelsEUg20HungerFREEEU OfficeMon, 20 Jun 2011 10:00:36 +0000chris.coxon31501 at http://www.actionaid.orgFood for Thought: How the G20 can help prevent a new food crisishttp://www.actionaid.org/eu/shared/food-thought-how-g20-can-help-prevent-new-food-crisis
<div class="field field-origin-node">
<div id="node-30247" class="node-teaser node-teaser-publication node-publication clearfix ">
<h2><a href="/publications/food-thought-how-g20-can-help-prevent-new-food-crisis" title="Food for Thought: How the G20 can help prevent a new food crisis">Food for Thought: How the G20 can help prevent a new food crisis</a></h2>
<div class="field field-publication-cover-image">
<a href="/publications/food-thought-how-g20-can-help-prevent-new-food-crisis" class="imagecache imagecache-image_heading_right imagecache-linked imagecache-image_heading_right_linked"><img src="http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/imagecache/image_heading_right/cover_18.png" alt="" title="" class="imagecache imagecache-image_heading_right" width="240" height="338" /></a> </div>
<div class="field field-publication-author">
ActionAid International, Peuples Solidaires </div>
<div class="field field-publication-full">
<a href="http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/food_for_thought_to_print.pdf"><img alt="application/pdf icon" src="http://www.actionaid.org/sites/all/modules/filefield/icons/application-pdf.png" /><span>Food for Thought</span></a> </div>
<div class="field field-publication-date-published">
<span class="date-display-single"><time datetime="2011-06-10T00:00:00+00:00">Friday, June 10, 2011</time></span> </div>
<div class="field field-publication-overview">
<p>Food price volatility is a grave threat to people around the world, and it&nbsp;cannot be brought under control without the G20. ActionAid is calling&nbsp;for action from the G20 in two key areas that will allow the people and&nbsp;governments of developing countries to strengthen their food security&nbsp;and limit food price volatility:</p><ul><li>The G20 must ensure sufficient investment in smallholders and&nbsp;women farmers, the bedrock of rural communities’ food security andlivelihoods.</li><li>The G20 must also commit to political and material support for robust&nbsp;food reserve systems that ensure food security, support smallholders,&nbsp;and help manage price stability.</li></ul> </div>
<div class="field field-publication-pages">
12 </div>
<fieldset class="fieldgroup group-related-content"><legend>Related content</legend><div class="field field-related-internal-link">
<a href="/what-we-do/food-and-land-rights">Food and land rights</a> </div>
<div class="field field-related-external-link">
<a href="http://www.peuples-solidaires.org">Peuples Solidaires</a> </div>
</fieldset>
<a href="/publications/food-thought-how-g20-can-help-prevent-new-food-crisis" title="Food for Thought: How the G20 can help prevent a new food crisis">read more</a>
</div>
</div>
food crisisfood policyg20Land and foodFood & land rightsEU OfficeTue, 14 Jun 2011 13:52:00 +0000Youjin.Chung30261 at http://www.actionaid.org